Chapter 10
Ansel says nothing and walks out of the room. Shifting my weight back and forth, I remain planted unsure of what to do next. He swiftly reappears. “Head back to your room,” he says.
I purse my lips. His expression isn’t cold, but it’s clear that this conversation is over. I bustle from the den and find my way back to my room. Entering, I curse and pace around. “Karin, learn to shut up sometimes,” I scold. “You’re going to ruin everything, and then your father will never get out of prison.” A knock on the door stops me.
“Madam may I come in?” an unfamiliar voice calls from the other side.
“Yes, you may enter.” A woman who looks about in her thirties enters my room. She closes the door and clasps her hands in front of her. “Hello, my name is Maggie. I’m the new maid assigned to you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sir Ansel said that I am to take care of everything you need from now on. I am the new head maid, and I will make sure there are no more problems moving forward.”
“What about Meredith?”
“She no longer works here.”
I stumbled backwards. He fired her. I can’t believe it. I thought that he’d completely ignored my request, but he was listening. I felt relief. I hadn’t made him mad after all. I give Maggie a warm smile. “It is very nice to meet you Maggie, I’m Karin.”
She smiled back. “Oh, I know. You’ve been the talk of the manor since you’ve been here.”
“So I’ve heard,” I reply with a grimace. “The things said about me haven’t been too kind. I hope that you don’t allow them to sway your judgement of me.”
“I don’t believe rumors,” Maggie says shaking her head. “And you don’t have to worry about the gossip anymore. The Second Prince made it clear that anyone caught engaging in disrespectful talk about you will be fired as well.”
I don’t know how to respond to her statement. It is a stark difference from the indifferent response I received when I’d initially made my request.
“That’s good to know,” I say, and she nods.
“I’m actually here to help you pack. Sir Ansel has arranged for you to stay in a small villa on the manor.” She fiddled with her fingers. “Is it true that you’re going to produce him an heir?”
“That’s the plan.”
She exhaled. “Well then maybe there is hope for Blue Moon’s survival after all.” Maggie quickly covers her mouth and looks down at the floor. “My apologies. I am way out of line.”
“Never apologize for speaking your mind,” I say as I place my hand on her shoulder. “It is nice to have someone to talk to.” She gave me a genuine smile and clapped her hands.
“I’m going to start packing your items,” she said.
“Thank you. I think I’m going to explore a bit.”
Leaving her, I make my way through the maze-like manor and soon stumble upon a room. It was dark, but the moonlight cascading inside allowed me to see an old piano.
“Wow…” I whisper. It looks almost out of place as if it is a part of a time that I’m not supposed to see. The closer I draw to it, the more intrigued I become. It seems to call out to me, and I reach out to touch it.
“No!” Ansel grabs my wrist. “Don’t touch it!” His grip on me tightens as he pulls me away from the instrument. I struggle against him, but I can’t break free.
“Let me go! You’re hurting me!” I screamed at him.
He releases my wrist, causing me to stumble. “This room is private. Don’t ever let me find you in here again. Do you understand?!”
His eyes are wild; and my heartbeat quickens. “I-I’m sorry.”
He glares at me hard. “I don’t want your apologies. Leave,” he says.
I raced from the room and bumped into Maggie. “I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head. “No that was my fault, Are you alright?” I don’t know how to tell her what happened, but what I do know is that I will never go near that room or the piano again.
A few days later
“You’re healthy by all accounts,” the doctor says as he reviews my charts. “You should be able to conceive naturally with no issues, but since we’re on a deadline, we’re going to use a progesterone booster to make sure that anything you two do, sticks.”
Ansel shifts in his seat. “Do whatever is needed. She needs to be pregnant within six months,” he says. The doctor nods and then pulls a large needle from his bag. He motions for me to lift my sleeve and I do.
“This may sting a bit.” I turn my head as he injects the drug into me. It burns, but I grit my teeth through the pain. “All done. Now, I recommend that you two have sex every week, particularly during your ovulation. I know it’s hard, but don’t put pressure on it. I find that when there is pressure, the likelihood of conception decreases.”
“Every week?!” I can’t help but blurt. “That’s pressure, right? I don’t think the Second Prince will be able to keep up with that type of schedule.”
I can feel the heat from Ansel leer, and I fold my lips. “Are you saying that I’m unable to perform?” he asks, angrily.
“No! I was just saying that men tend to get exhausted. Woman don’t have orgasms as readily, so we tend to have more stamina. If conception is dependent on how many times that you cum then I would assume the amount would decrease if by the end of the week you’re straining to produce.”
Ansel face is almost purple by the time I’m finished. “Where did you learn to speak that way?”
“You should expect nothing less from a woman like me. We have a long road ahead of us, you’ll get used to it eventually.”
His eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he remained silent for the rest of the doctor visit.
A Few Days Later
“Is this all for me?” I asked Maggy as I waved my hand over the smorgasbord of food that never seems to end. She nodded.
“Yes. The Second Prince has requested a more nutritious, high-calorie diet for you moving forward.
My stomach turns from the mixture of smells. “I don’t want this.”
Ansel’s sharp voice pulls from the entry way of the door causing me to jump. “You had no problem indulging before if I recall. You will adjust to your new diet per the advice of the doctor, or did you forget all the sacrifices that your surrogacy will require? Not just for you, but for me as well.”
The cold expression on his face makes me lower my head and avert my eyes. This isn’t up for negotiation. He walks further into the room, and I inhale sharply and begin to eat. I clamp down on a bite of a sandwich and Ansel tenseness starts to ease.
Just hold it in until he leaves.
I will myself, but the large meal makes me want to vomit. I gag and drop the sandwich. “I’m going to be sick.”
“…oh my, I think she’s already pregnant,” The butler murmurs as everyone stares at me.
